Truck bed with selectively actuated magnetic floor sections

ABSTRACT

A pick-up truck bed having controllably magnetized areas for retaining cargo or attachment devices. A first permanent magnet may be attached below the lower surface of the truck bed with a second permanent being rotatable relative to the first permanent magnet to control the magnetic flux provided to retain objects in the truck bed. Alternatively, one or more electromagnets may be provided that may be turned on to retain objects in the truck bed and turned off to allow removal of objects.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a pick-up truck bed that includes areas thatmagnetically hold objects in the truck bed.

BACKGROUND

Pick-up trucks have truck beds that are used to transport a wide varietyof objects. Pick-up truck beds normally provide an undivided area thatreceives objects that may be tied down with ropes, bungee cords, and thelike. Tying down objects is time consuming and, if the objects are notproperly secured, they may become unsecured during transit, loading orunloading.

Attaching magnets to objects to be stored in or on a truck or othervehicle is proposed in US 2012/292359. A permanent magnet is proposed tobe attached to a container or truck bed divider to hold the object inplace during transit. The publication also discloses the concept ofproviding a magnet embedded in the truck box floor or in a bed liner.One problem with this approach is that the magnetic force holding theobject in place also resists unloading objects from the truck bed so thedegree of magnetic force provided must be limited to allow unloading.Limiting the magnetic force holding the object increases the risk thatthe object may become dislodged during transit or in a collision.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,172,309 discloses a magnetic bar attached to the rearedge of a truck bed for preventing metal objects such as nails or screwsfrom falling off the back of the truck bed. The magnetic bar attached tothe rear edge of the truck bed as disclosed is not intended to secureobjects to be transported but is intended to prevent nails or screwsfrom falling off the truck bed. The magnetic force of the permanentmagnet is constant and no mechanism is disclosed for changing themagnetic force applied by the magnet.

This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and otherproblems as summarized below.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a magnetic cargo retainer isdisclosed for a pick-up truck bed. The cargo retainer includes a firstpermanent magnet that creates a first magnetic field applied to objectsdisposed in the bed. A second permanent magnet creates a second magneticfield. The second permanent magnet is attached to the bed to moverelative to the first permanent magnet to change a level of magneticforce applied to objects in the bed.

According to other aspects of this disclosure relating to the cargoretainer, the first permanent magnet may be fixed to the bed and thesecond permanent magnet may be attached to a pin that extends through anopening defined by the first permanent magnet. The second permanentmagnet is rotatable relative to the first permanent magnet.

The first and second permanent magnets each have a north pole and asouth pole, the second permanent magnet being rotatable from a retentionposition with the north pole of the second magnet aligned with the northpole of the first magnet to a release position with the north pole ofthe second magnet aligned with the south pole of the first magnet.

The cargo retainer may further comprise a handle operatively attached tothe second permanent magnet and extending through an opening in thetruck bed. The handle is accessible inside the truck bed to rotate thesecond permanent magnet.

The cargo retainer may further comprise a servo motor operativelyattached to the second permanent magnet, wherein the motor may beselectively actuated to rotate or pivot the second permanent magnet.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a cargo retaining systemis disclosed for a pick-up truck bed. The cargo retaining systemincludes a first plurality of stationary magnets creating a firstplurality of magnetic fields that are applied to objects disposed in thebed. A second plurality of rotatable magnets creates a second pluralityof magnetic fields and are attached to the bed to move relative to thefirst plurality of stationary magnets. The second plurality of rotatablemagnets is rotated to change a level of magnetic force applied toobjects in the bed. A plurality of driven wheels may be attached to eachone of the rotatable magnets. A continuous flexible drive element iswrapped around each of the driven wheels to rotate the rotatablemagnets. A drive apparatus is disclosed that includes a driving wheelthat is rotated to move the flexible drive element and rotate therotatable magnets.

According to other aspects of the cargo retaining system, the drivenwheels may be sprockets and the drive element may be a belt.Alternatively, the drive apparatus may be a servo motor. In anotheralternative, the drive apparatus may be a handle operatively attached tothe drive apparatus that extends through an opening in the truck bedthat is accessible inside the truck bed to rotate the drive apparatus.

According to a further aspect of this disclosure, an electromagneticcargo retainer is disclosed for a pick-up truck bed. The cargo retainerincludes an electromagnet attached to the pick-up truck bed and a powersource. A switch electrically connects the electromagnet and the powersource to turn the electromagnet on to provide magnetic flux inside thetruck bed for retaining a magnetically attracted object in the truck bedand off to reduce the magnetic flux provided by the electromagnet insidethe truck bed.

The electromagnet may be one of a plurality of electromagnets attachedto the pick-up truck bed and the switch may be electrically connected toeach of the plurality of electromagnets to independently turn theelectromagnets on and off.

The magnetically attracted object may be a partition secured to thetruck bed by the electromagnet.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a pick-up truck isdisclosed that includes a truck bed and a magnet attached to a lowersurface of the truck bed. The pick-up truck also includes means forchanging the magnetic force applied by the magnet to objects disposed inthe truck bed that are attracted to the magnet.

The magnet may be an electromagnet. Alternatively, the magnet may be afirst permanent magnet, and the means for changing the magnetic forceapplied may be a second permanent magnet that may be rotatable to modifythe level of magnetic force applied to objects in the truck bed.

The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be describedbelow with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right rear perspective view of a pick-up truck madeaccording to one embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pick-up truck bed providedwith a cargo retention system in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view slightly enlarged showingpart of the cargo retention system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a pick-up truck including a truck bedhaving a motor driven cargo retention system.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view partially broken away of the pick-uptruck in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of an electromagnetic cargo retentionsystem.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a cargo retention system and controllerfor another embodiment that includes an individual servo motor for eachset of paired permanent magnets as described with the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pick-up truck showing thetruck bed being provided with a plurality of electromagnets with some ofthe magnets being used to support a removable partition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to thedrawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various andalternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. The specific structural and functional details disclosed arenot to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pick-up truck 10 is illustrated that includestruck bed 12. Several objects 14 are shown disposed in the truck bed 12.The objects 14 are ferrous objects or objects that are subject tomagnetic attraction or magnetic forces. A first permanent magnet 16, orstationary magnet, and a second permanent magnet 18, or rotatablemagnet, are provided below the truck bed 12. The permanent magnets maybe “rare earth” or neodymium magnets, but could also be another type ofpermanent magnet. The first and second permanent magnets 16 and 18 asshown are arranged as a cargo retainer or cargo retention system. Aremovable handle 20 is shown inserted into the truck bed 12 that is usedto rotate or pivot the second permanent magnets 18 from 0° to 180° toincrease or decrease the magnetic force applied by the magnets 16, 18 toobjects 14 disposed in the truck bed 12. The handle 20 is inserted intoa handle mounting assembly 21 to adjust the magnetic force applied to anobject 14. The permanent magnets 16, 18 do not require power after beingset in position and provide a magnetic retention force even when thevehicle power supply is off.

Referring to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a pick-up truck 10 having a bed12 is illustrated that includes the first permanent magnet 16 and thesecond permanent magnet 18 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The handle 20(shown in FIG. 1) is inserted into a handle mounting assembly 21, orbearing, to rotate a driving wheel 28, or a sprocket. The driving wheel28 engages and rotates the continuous flexible drive element 26, such asa belt or chain. Rotation of the belt 26 causes the driven wheels 24, orsprockets, to rotate and change the position of the second permanentmagnet 18 relative to the first permanent magnet 16. The first andsecond permanent magnets 16, 18 are part of the cargo retention system.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the truck bed 12 is shown in cross sectiontaken through the handle mounting assembly 20 and two of the first andsecond permanent magnet assemblies 16 and 18. The first permanent magnet16 (as shown in FIG. 3) has a north pole that is to the left side of thepin 29. The second permanent magnet 18 has a south pole to the left sideof the pin 29. Pin 29 extends through the driven wheels 24 and isreceived in a bushing 31. The bushing 31 is connected to the firstmagnet 16 and extends through the second magnet 18. The driven wheels 24are connected by fasteners 25 to the second magnet 18.

In the release position shown in FIG. 3, the north pole of the permanentor stationary magnet 16 is in alignment with the south pole of thesecond permanent magnet 18 that is also referred to as a rotatablemagnet 18. In this orientation, the magnetic flux provided above thetruck bed 12 is reduced due to the attraction of the first permanentmagnet 16 to the second permanent magnet 18.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first permanent magnet 16 and the secondpermanent magnet 18 have north poles that are aligned. In the retentionposition, a greater amount of flux is directed through the truck bed 12and the ability of the cargo retainer system to retain objects in thetruck bed 12 is enhanced. The truck bed 12 is preferably an aluminumtruck bed, or could possibly be a composite truck bed. With either analuminum or composite truck bed, magnetic flux penetrates the truck bed12 to a greater extent than would be expected with a steel truck bed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the handle 20 is inserted through an opening22 formed in the truck bed 12. The handle 20 is received in the bearing21, or handle mounting assembly, and may be used to rotate the drivingwheel 28. Rotation of the driving wheel 28 causes the flexible driveelement 26 to rotate the driven wheels 24.

The driven wheels 24 are connected to the second permanent magnet 18 andare effective to rotate the second permanent magnets 18 relative to thefirst permanent magnets 16.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another alternative embodiment is shown inwhich a servo motor 40 is used to rotate the second permanent magnets18. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a power source 32, such as avehicle battery, is selectively connected by a switch 34 to the servomotor 40. The switch 34 may be an internal switch control of acontroller, or may be a manual toggle switch. The switch 34 isaccessible within the passenger compartment of the pick-up truck 10. Ifdesired, the switch 34 may be incorporated in a key fob to allow themotor 40 to be remotely operated when it is desired to load or unloadobjects from the truck bed 12. The motor 40 rotates a driving wheel 28that engages the flexible drive element 26. The flexible drive element26 is operable to rotate the driven wheels 24. The driven wheels 24rotate the second permanent magnet 18 relative to the stationary firstpermanent magnet 16 to change the strength of the magnetic field used toretain objects on the truck bed 12.

Referring to FIG. 7, another alternative embodiment is shown wherein aplurality of electromagnets 30 are connected to a controller 36. Theelectromagnets 30 may be attached to the truck bed (as shown in FIG. 9)in a spaced relationship inside the truck bed. The controller 36 mayreceive inputs from switches 34 that may be used to control theindividual magnets as a group or individually. The controller 36 iselectrically connected to the electromagnets 30 that are secured to thetruck bed 12 by fasteners 42 that hold the electromagnets 30 against thetruck bed 12.

The electromagnets may be controlled by the switches 34 that may sendcontrol signals to the body control module that controls the supply ofpower to the electromagnets 30 in the truck bed 12. The body controlmodule may integrate the signal with the vehicle speed and steeringinputs to adjust the power provided to the electromagnets based uponvehicle dynamics. Power consumption of the electromagnets 30 may bereduced by limiting the power supplied when kinetic forces applied toobjects 14 in the truck bed 12 are reduced.

Referring to FIG. 8, another alternative embodiment is shown in which aplurality of servo motors 40 are used to rotate the second permanentmagnet 18 relative to a first permanent magnet 16. A plurality ofswitches 34 provide inputs to a controller 36. The switches 34 andcontroller 36 may be used to individually control the separate servomotors 40. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, a single servo motor 40 isattached to each of the second permanent magnets.

The servo motor 40 may be attached to the truck bed (as shown in FIG. 9)to provide a plurality of magnetic cargo retention areas in the truckbed 12. The servo motor 40 rotates with the permanent magnets 16 and 18relative to each other to control the magnetic field acting on thepartitions 46. Alternatively, the electromagnets 30 may be used to holdthe partitions 46 in place in the truck bed 12. The partitions 46 maytake a wide variety of shapes and may extend horizontally in the lateraldirection or in the longitudinal direction. Hooks, rings, or otherattachment devices may be retained on the truck bed 12 instead of thepartitions 46. Other types of attachment devices may be held in place bythe electromagnets 30 permanent magnets 16 and 18. For example, a hook,loop or block can be secured to the magnetic area to facilitate tyingdown any size or shape of cargo. Placing the magnets below the floor ofthe pick-up truck bed maximizes flexibility and does not consume cargospace within the truck bed.

The embodiments described above are specific examples that do notdescribe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of theillustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments ofthe disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words ofdescription rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims isbroader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includesmodifications of the illustrated embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cargo retainer for a pick-up truck bedcomprising: a first permanent magnet creating a first magnetic fieldapplied to objects disposed in the bed; and a second permanent magnetcreating a second magnetic field, the second permanent magnet beingattached to the bed to move relative to the first permanent magnet,wherein the second permanent magnet is moved to change a level ofmagnetic force applied to objects in the bed.
 2. The cargo retainer ofclaim 1 wherein the first permanent magnet is fixed to the bed and thesecond permanent magnet is attached to a pin that extends through anopening defined by the first permanent magnet, and wherein the secondpermanent magnet is rotated relative to the first permanent magnet. 3.The cargo retainer of claim 1 wherein the first and second permanentmagnets each have a north pole and a south pole, the second permanentmagnet being rotatable from a retention position with the north pole ofthe second magnet aligned with the north pole of the first magnet to arelease position with the north pole of the second magnet aligned withthe south pole of the first magnet.
 4. The cargo retainer of claim 1further comprising: a handle operatively attached to the secondpermanent magnet and extending through an opening in the bed, whereinthe handle is accessible inside the bed to rotate the second permanentmagnet.
 5. The cargo retainer of claim 1 further comprising: a servomotor operatively attached to the second permanent magnet is selectivelyactuated to rotate the second permanent magnet.
 6. A cargo retainer fora pick-up truck bed comprising: a first plurality of stationary magnetscreating a first plurality of magnetic fields that are applied toobjects disposed in the bed; and a second plurality of rotatable magnetscreating a second magnetic field, the second plurality of rotatablemagnets being attached to the bed to move relative to the firstplurality of stationary magnets, wherein the second plurality ofrotatable magnets is rotated to change a level of magnetic force appliedto objects in the bed.
 7. The cargo retainer of claim 6 furthercomprising: a plurality of driven wheels each being attached to one ofthe rotatable magnets; a continuous flexible drive element wrappedaround each of the driven wheels, wherein the drive element is moved torotate the rotatable magnets; and a drive apparatus including a drivingwheel that is rotated to move the drive element and rotate the rotatablemagnets.
 8. The cargo retainer of claim 7 wherein the driven wheels aresprockets and the drive element is a belt or chain.
 9. The cargoretainer of claim 7 wherein the drive apparatus is a servo motor. 10.The cargo retainer of claim 7 wherein the drive apparatus is a handleoperatively attached to the driving wheel that extends through anopening in the truck bed, wherein the handle is accessible inside thetruck bed to rotate the drive apparatus.
 11. A cargo retainer for apick-up truck bed comprising: an electromagnet attached to the pick-uptruck bed; a power source; and a switch electrically connecting theelectromagnet and the power source to turn the electromagnet on toprovide magnetic flux inside the truck bed for retaining a magneticallyattracted object in the truck bed and off to reduce the magnetic fluxprovided by the electromagnet inside the truck bed.
 12. The cargoretainer of claim 11 wherein the electromagnet is one of a plurality ofelectromagnets attached to the pick-up truck bed, and wherein the switchis electrically connected to each of the plurality of electromagnets toturn the electromagnets on and off.
 13. The cargo retainer of claim 12wherein the switch is operative to independently turn the electromagnetson and off.
 14. The cargo retainer of claim 11 wherein the magneticallyattracted object is a partition secured to the truck bed by theelectromagnet.
 15. A pick-up truck comprising: a truck bed; a magnetattached to a lower surface of the truck bed; and means for changing amagnetic force applied by the magnet to objects disposed in the truckbed that are attracted to the magnet.
 16. The pick-up truck of claim 15wherein the magnet is an electromagnet.
 17. The pick-up truck of claim16 wherein the magnet is a first permanent magnet and the means forchanging the magnetic force applied is a second permanent magnet that isrotatable to modify a level of magnetic force applied to objects in thetruck bed.